jobs that will pay for reinstatement of licenses?

[Jorgy50]

I have a friend who lost his licences, but is eligible to have them reinstated. However he doesn't have the $$$ to pay for the cost of the checkrides and related training expenses. He has approximately 7500 hours, most of which as a Captain of a 121 airline in a CRJ 200 so he should be competitive for hire. He would love to get back in the game, just doesn't have the funds needed to pay for training. Does anyone know of companies that would cover these expenses as a condition of employment? He would consider any flying - corporate, oversea's, cargo, really anything.

 

[BeachBummer]

almost hate to ask... Why did he lose his license?

 

[Jorgy50]

if it's relevant - He popped positive on random drug test. Having said that, his FAA record shows his side of the story - it was a false positive. Not defending or condoning, just the facts here. Would this preclude him from future employment ?

 

[bafanguy]

if it's relevant - He popped positive on random drug test. Having said that, his FAA record shows his side of the story - it was a false positive.

Well, if that's the case, it's a nightmare.

One of the real fears we had when this thing was shoved down our throats was the false positive.

Did your friend's company not provide for a split sample in random testing ?

I assume the medical review officer checked the data when it came up positive ?

Can you tell, in general terms, what your friend thinks accounts for the false positive ?

 

[Jim]

If it was a false positive and the FAA records reflect that, then why were his licenses revoked? Seems there is more to the story.

 

[RJLoser]

I'd like to hear more. Why were his certs revoked if it was a confirmed false-positive? I might be able to suggest something based on that answer.

 

[BeachBummer]

if it's relevant - He popped positive on random drug test. Having said that, his FAA record shows his side of the story - it was a false positive. Not defending or condoning, just the facts here. Would this preclude him from future employment ?

If it was a true false pos. I'd suggest a good lawyer first. Then once the FAA reinstates his tickets he can move on to looking for employment. If he is truly innocent and it can be proven, he may not need to look for a job. I'd go after everyone that had anything to do with the chain of custody of the sample right through the lab corp and the company he worked for.

I'm sorry, I can't offer any more relevant info. good luck to your buddy.

 

[Jorgy50]

I don't know all the details, but what I do know is he tested positive for cocaine metabolites. Let's just say his pilot group has no union, so they pretty much just said - good luck with your defense. At the time of the test, he was under a doctors care taking prescription amoxicillin, which I hear is structurally very similar to the cocaine molecule. He did hire a lawyer, who was able to research the relationship of false positives and amoxicillin, and found case studies supporting that claim. It apparently happens more than one might think. The problem was, after $60k in legal bills, he ran out of money just before he could go to trial. I think he was at least able to get a statement in his FAA file stating his defense, but does that really do any good? The FAA has says he is now eligible to return to flying, but back to the original problem here - he doesn't have the funds to go through the process.

 

[fly4surf]

Thank goodness for ALPA.
Would have been a very different story.

 

[Golden Falcon]

I don't know all the details, but what I do know is he tested positive for cocaine metabolites. Let's just say his pilot group has no union, so they pretty much just said - good luck with your defense. At the time of the test, he was under a doctors care taking prescription amoxicillin, which I hear is structurally very similar to the cocaine molecule. He did hire a lawyer, who was able to research the relationship of false positives and amoxicillin, and found case studies supporting that claim. It apparently happens more than one might think. The problem was, after $60k in legal bills, he ran out of money just before he could go to trial. I think he was at least able to get a statement in his FAA file stating his defense, but does that really do any good? The FAA has says he is now eligible to return to flying, but back to the original problem here - he doesn't have the funds to go through the process.

wondering if he listed the anti-biotic on his for one fills out inquiring about medications in use..

 

[GlorifiedCabbie]

wondering if he listed the anti-biotic on his for one fills out inquiring about medications in use..

Disclosure of medication is not required at the time of the test, but something still doesn't add up. I have several years experience as an advocate for a 135 operator. Penicillin based antibiotics share a metabolite(benzolecgonine?spelling?) with cocaine. The amount of antibiotic must have been high to trigger the positive result. The second sample is used for a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer verification test. Sounds like the test was positive with no split sample( lack of union representation) for the verification test or the MRO was incompetent.

 

[GlorifiedCabbie]

So now that I had some time to recollect my thoughts from ancient history, it is unusual to have a BE over 100 unless it was a 'loading dose". The carrier you worked for should take you back. A positive result precludes you from working for another commercial carrier. PM me and I might be able to help you. 60k? I'm sure you can agree, the price of union dues is a bargain.

 

[bafanguy]

While acknowledging that people occasionally do stupid stuff, I'm unapologetically biased toward giving pilots benefit of the doubt with accompanying process and protections from inevitable government abuse. The guy in this case may very well have been railroaded without access to a proper defense.

Back when Elizabeth Dole was Secretary of Transportation (1983-1987ish, pretty sure I have the time frame right) and drug testing was a hot topic, I was channel surfing and stumbled across a C-Span broadcast of a Senate Transportation Sub-Committee hearing on drug abuse in the transportation industry (not just aviation).

I wish I could find a link to it because it should be required viewing for anyone in commercial aviation. It's been many years but I recall it would dispel any notion you are anything but chattel property in the mind of government. That hearing was just a blatant dog & pony show to make Joe Sixpack think the vote trollops were actually protecting him from something.

The ALPA national aeromedical chairman and an ALPA lawyer were there representing the airline biz. They were treated like dirt by the panel as they tried to explain the HIMS program to show the airline biz could effectively police itself. You could see the exasperation on their faces.

Dole was a joke trying to justify the need for testing and the senators were arrogant, sneering and condescending. Fritz Hollings and John Danforth were particularly bad. Just a kangaroo court and nothing less.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing; I was furious that honorable professionals were treated like that. I called the aeromedical guy (a DL guy) to express my anger. He said they had been INVITED to testify and were stunned at the treatment they received.

So, there's little reason to trust the Imperial Federal Kakistocracy to treat us serfs and peasants in an honorable way. Perhaps, the guy in this thread is an innocent victim ? That's my default stance until conclusive proof to the contrary is provided.

 

[Dash Power]

A note in the FAA file that one has received a false positive but continues to revoke the license.

My guess is this is not true.

 

[pilotyip]

I remember when drug testing came into the Navy in the early 80's. There had been a night time flight deck accident on one of the CV's. 35 sailors were killed, they found than a third of them were using drugs. The flight deck of a carrier is not someplace you want to be while under the influence of anything.

The Navy then instituted mandatory drug testing for everyone from the CNO down to the new boot. Suddenly you look around your unit and people are missing. This included maintainers, flight crew, even an FE. You were just shocked at who was a user. It is a good program, no one using drugs have any place in any DOD or DOT function.

The drug testing procedure was quite personal, a Corpsman would have to physically observe the urine leaving your body to ensure it was a real sample.

 

[Andy]

60k? I'm sure you can agree, the price of union dues is a bargain.

Thank you for posting that. I've been sharply critical of ALPA over the years, but this is one area where they excel.